Gov. Pat Quinn has ordered a moratorium on political hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation and is requiring executive-level staff in every state agency to undergo training about proper hiring practices.
His actions come amid questions about whether state jobs were improperly filled based on clout rather than qualifications. According to memos, Quinn also is ordering an outside audit of all IDOT political hires to determine if the positions were properly filled.
IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider resigned earlier this week. Her departure followed a news report that Schneider’s stepdaughter might have been among those whose hiring sidestepped the rules.